I am about to lose

MY MOTHERFUCKING MIND

I can't remember if I've posted about it on here. I think I have. But I've been trying to get solar installed on my house since LAST DECEMBER and it has been an absolute nightmare.

Back on March 10th I finally signed the papers and settled on getting solar panels.

When I first ordered the panels I was very clear that I wanted as many as we could squeeze onto my garage roof, as it gets the most sun for the longest portion of the day. And then I wanted some on my house roof to power whatever those panels on the garage couldn't cover. They said no problem sounds great.

They did tell me that it can take a couple months to get the approval back from the county, as my county is very stingy with solar panels. I said cool no worries I get it. It's just bureaucratic bullshit. Nothing to be done.

So finally on July 5th I got my solar panels installed. 4 months after I first signed for these panels.

The day of the install I was working from home. They came to my door and had me approve the "final" plans and got to work. In the early afternoon they came to the door again and said they were finished. I came out to look and noticed there were NO PANELS ON THE GARAGE.

So I went out and talked to the solar guys and I was like "you're done? What about the garage?" And they very proudly said "oh we were able to fit them all on the house roof."

My eye definitely started twitching a little but I was like... Okay well what's done is done. That's really not great that they didn't consult me about the changes but... They know best right?

So the guy takes me around to show me how to turn on the panels once I they pass their final inspection "in about 10 business days," and the solar guys went on their merry way.

So a few weeks go by and I never hear about the inspection from our power company. So I call them and they tell me they're waiting on paperwork from the solar company.

So I call the solar company and get told "hmmm I'm not sure. I'll reach out to the project manager and have them give you a call."

Week goes by. No call.

So I call again and finally get told "oh. So we're waiting for the COS forms to come back from your county."

Do you know what a COS form is?

Change of Scope. It's a form that has to be sent back to the county to approve when changes are made to the layout. So you know how it took 4 months to get the solar approved the first time? Yeah now I had to wait for the plans to be approved AGAIN before an inspection could be done.

The only reason the COS had to be submitted was because of the changes made to the plans WITHOUT MY CONSENT OR APPROVAL.

So there went all of July with all of it's beautiful peak sun. And then August. And September. Finally in the beginning of October it all got approved and the inspectors were sent out, the final inspection having taken place on Oct 18th. I was told I could turn on my panels. Finally.

BUT I still don't have working solar panels. Once I got the okay to turn them on, on the 18th, I did so, following the instructions the install tech had given me back in July. I assumed they were on, until I got the app set up to tell me what each panel is producing, etc and it told me I've produced nothing.

Then I get an email a couple days later with instructions on how to turn it all on. There are a few more steps than the solar install guy told me so I went out to try it. The problem is, half of the steps don't seem to apply to the setup I was give.

For example step one in turning it on is to flip the solar panel switch in the breaker that should have been installed on the day the solar panels were installed.

No such breaker switch was installed. They never came inside, never installed anything on our breaker panel.

There's also this little red nob that is supposed to be flipped to one specific position. But my little red nob does have two options like the instructions, it has three options. And none of them make the green light stay on like the instructions say. So I still am not producing power and no one will answer my emails as to how to get it turned on.

Now. On top of all of this, consider that my power company has been steadily raising the bills. My power bill is nearly double what it was this time last year. And by now I should be on solar power, but I'm not. So it's cost me nearly $1000 in power bills I shouldn't have had to pay.

The other fun thing is this: I'm "on grid" meaning I'm producing the solar energy, giving it back to the power company, and they basically credit me for what is produced. Any surplus that I produce during the peak months is supposed to be credited back to me during the winter, when the panels are covered in snow or the sun is at a bad angle or behind clouds. Theoretically I should produce enough power during the summer to get me through the winter without having to pay a power bill.

But because it's now October and I still don't have solar, I'm going to be paying power bills all winter because I won't be producing enough solar power to cover what I use. Because I never got to store up that surplus.

So it's cost me money in power bills all summer, and it will cost me money in power bills all winter. It's STILL NOT WORKING. And in the meantime, I'm having to start paying the $60 a month for the loan payments for the solar panels THAT AREN'T DOING JACK SHIT.

All the solar company has offered is to reimburse me for the September payment. Which I actually need to reach out to them on because they never did send me a check or anything. So for all this hassle and insanity, I've been given $60 in theory.

I have seriously never been this angry in my entire life. I can't afford to speak to like... A lawyer to see if there's anything legally that can be done. I can't get through to anyone at the solar company to just get the damn things working. Keep in mind I lost my job so I have no income to pay for all these bills I wasn't expecting.

Stay away from Titan Solar Company.

About to go on the roof.

I hate getting on the roof

things we have discovered through the course of frenzied reorganization:

the refrigerator is the standard size for the type that it is.

this house is the most inconveniently laid out building i have ever encountered, what the fuck was i thinking

moving a shelf to the other wall has magically cleared up SO MUCH ROOM.

cable management is a lot easier to do when you're taking everything apart

why do we have so many lack tables and how do i make them go elsewhere.

no, seriously, the refrigerator is the standard size -- yes, i know it's too big for where it is, but where else is it going?

i have never in my life so badly wanted to either knock down a wall or complete one just to make it easier to put A Furniture there.

LP. honey. darling. dearest. it does not matter how many times you measure that refrigerator, it is not suddenly magically larger than all the others you're looking at. it's the same size. you will have the same issues (though obviously less broken.) let it go.

[sobbing] i just want one functional closet. just one.

anyway the moral of the story here is that we really should have been looking at way different things when we moved in here, but that's fine we're fine we're gonna make it work.

has anyone ever found an accent chair they don't hate

I'm still a bit like in this comic (Au Fond du Trou, éditions Lapin, lisez-le c'est bien)

Moving In

Pairing: Jason Todd x reader

Warnings: None

Summary: a short Drabble on you convincing Jason to move in with you

Word Count: 963

Your house was a haven for Jason. It was somewhere where he could lay down and forget all his troubles or simply sit in silence and not be overwhelmed by the life outside of your front doors. Despite the occasional complaints he hears from you about the woes of homeowning, he sees no flaw in your home. You were well off from your job, able to buy a nice home in the same area that Wayne Manor sat. It wasn’t intentional, you had been living in this home before you knew Jason, and through the years you had completed various renovations and upgrades to make it reflect you. There was a garden in the backyard filled with your favorite flowers, a sizeable kitchen where Jason likes to spend most of his time, sunlight poured through the floor to ceiling windows, and a few additional rooms catered to your interests were settled between the walls of the home. Convincing Jason to move in was not a hard thing to do. He hated living in an apartment and hearing his neighbors talk or walk around in the middle of the night when he was trying to sleep. You and Jason also found that it was a hazard climbing into the windows during the waking hours of dawn after patrol. A few close calls meant that most of the time when you were out on patrol, you two went back to your place to crash. It’s easy to say that he was delighted when you offered to let him move in after a long week of patrols gone south. 

         “You know, you should ditch the apartment, Jay.” You were laying on top of his chest, legs sprawled out over his and blankets nearly covering your face.

         “Whatcha mean Doll?” He stopped combing his fingers through your hair and started twisting small loops into it with his fingers.

         “Come live with me. You always talk about hating living in the city anyways and you sleep better there.” 

         “It would make patrols easier.” He commented, “You’re not delirious right, you’d actually want me to live at your place?” There was a tone of insecurity in his voice like at any moment you’d tell him you were joking.

         “I am not delirious Jason.” You sat up and looked at him, “I have plenty of empty room that needs you to fill it.” “There’s plenty of room for your books in the library and you practically already live there. I’m pretty sure more than 60% of your things are already somewhere in the house.” “You could literally move in right now.” 

         “I would love to live with you.” He said smiling, “but I think we’d need to, you know, make sure everything is taken care of before I move out. My lease ends in a week and I’d need to pack everything up” 

         “We can get boxes tomorrow.” You said, “You can just start leaving things for the next week, plus, you don’t have to stay in the apartment even if your lease isn’t over.”

         That was exactly a week ago and Jason was ready to move into your place. He pulled into the space in your garage that was meant for him with boxes loaded in the back of his car. There weren’t many boxes in his trunk, but he had a few odds and ends that he couldn’t send to Goodwill or throwing away. Most of the contents of the boxes were his books, some old mugs and pictures, the clothes that weren’t already in your house, hygiene stuff from his place, and other knickknacks he had around. After a few seconds of collecting his thoughts, he looked up to see you coming into the garage from the side door into your house with a smile.

         You took his hand as he got out of the car and shut the door to walk to the trunk and start unloading. Taking a few boxes at a time, the two of you gradually unloaded everything and put it into the room connecting to the garage. It wasn’t going to take a long time for you two to unload everything, the most daunting thing to Jason was permanently invading your space. Taking the box filled with mugs, you opened the cabinet in the kitchen that kept all the mugs and started carefully putting them in like they were meant to be there. 

         “Hey doll, do you have a place you want all of this?” He asked timidly.        

         Usually moving in somewhere wasn’t a problem for him and he knew where everything was meant. He knew that you didn’t mind and just wanted him to be comfortable, but at the same time, Jason was afraid he would mess something up, make you regret letting him live with you.

         “You know you can put stuff wherever. I mean obviously shampoo and conditioner belong in the bathroom and dishes in the kitchen but Jay, this is your home, I don’t mind.” You said comfortably.

         Jason felt his heart swell at your words. This was his house now. You might have been there first, but you were telling him that this was allowed to be his home. Everything was perfect, nothing was popping Jason’s bubble now. 

         He set his stuff down and watched as you walked over to him and wrapped your arms around his waist. In a moment of silence, he ran his fingers through your hair and put his chin on the top of your head.

         “I’m glad you’re here now.” You said softly, “I hated when you had to leave.”          Jason held onto you tighter and lifted your chin with his finger, “I love you y/n/n. You’ve given me the best life I could have ever lived.”

         “I love you too Jay.” 

Life Update

Heyyyy it’s been a while! I never really expect anyone to notice when I fuck off for long periods of time, but in case you did and happened to be wondering why I was mostly MIA for most of 2023, here's what I've been up to.

The short version: My husband and I sold our first house over the summer and bought our “forever” home! It worked out so much better than I could have hoped, but it turns out that prepping a house to sell and moving = lots of stress and chaos...which caused me to tumble off the deep end mentally for a while afterwards and I’m only just starting to recover.

---

Before I elaborate, I feel like I have to give a disclaimer because the last thing I want is to come across like I'm complaining or ungrateful. I'm very aware of how lucky and privileged I am to be a homeowner, so I am by no means asking for sympathy or trying to act like "buying/selling a house is so stressful, woe is me!" I understand that homeownership is a pipe dream for a lot of people, especially in the current economy, and I don't take that for granted. I'm genuinely grateful that I even have the opportunity to be stressed about something like this, but I can't deny that it was stressful.

If anyone is wondering how I managed to buy a house at all, I'm happy to answer that in a separate post. The abridged version is extremely lucky timing plus countless hours of hard work put into fixing up our first house that we bought for cheap back when the market was way more balanced (2016).

When I talk about the stress of last year, it's almost entirely in regards to my own mental health which is something I've always struggled with. I get overwhelmed VERY easily by regular life, let alone when I go through a major change (no matter how positive it is). Every big transition period in my life has triggered intense anxiety disorders and/or depression for me, so that's the main reason why things felt so difficult.

If you happen to be thinking something along the lines of "shut the fuck up, no one cares you were stressed, you're so privileged to even be able to own a house," ...believe me, I've already said to myself a million times. That is part of why I end up so depressed in the first place, because I feel like I “don’t have the right” when my life is so wonderful. But thanks to therapy I understand more about my mental illnesses and I'm trying to be less hard on myself now.

Still, I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea 😅.

---

Anyways! If you want to know more about our house/see some pics, the long version with all of my rambling is below the cut!

The long version:

My husband and I bought our first house in 2016, right after getting married. It was conveniently located right across the street from where we had been living with 4 of our friends (which is how we were able to save enough money to buy a house), but it was in such bad condition that it didn't even meet the FHA minimum property standards so we had to use a special type of mortgage to purchase it. We always meant for it to a long-term flip, planning to live there while renovating it so that we could sell it after a few years and use the profit to buy a house that would be more permanent.

We put so much literal blood sweat and tears into that house. In the beginning we spent every single hour of our spare time fixing up the house. We do all renovation work ourselves because my dad and husband have experience with demolition, electrical, and plumbing. And anything we don't know how to do we just figure out as we go along. The only time we hired a contractor was to replace the roof that had extensive water damage.

(This is the water damage discovered down the whole back of the house a few weeks after we bought it 🙃)

(One before-and-after out of many to avoid making this post absurdly long. The contractors finished the ceiling when they did the roof but otherwise we did all the work on that bathroom ourselves, including moving the shower wall back 6 inches so that the shower door wasn't mounted to the window trim 🤦🏻‍♀️)

Over a few years we worked on remodeling each room until we eventually we got super burnt out, and then the pandemic happened and we both fell into a deep depression. Finally, in 2022 I got myself a therapist and started clawing myself out of the dark place I was in, and at the start of April 2023 we started prepping the house to sell. I had been watching the market steadily increase to absolutely insane levels and knew it was kind of a “now or never” situation, even though I still felt very fragile mentally so I was worried how I would handle such a large undertaking.

I never could have imagined just how amazing it would turn out. We truly couldn't be happier with our new home, it’s pretty much everything we were hoping for and I still can’t believe how lucky we are to have gotten it. I was prepared to have a hard time finding an affordable house. I had heard of all kinds of horror stories and the crazy competition going on in the market was intimidating. I thought we were gearing up for the long haul, and prepared myself for a lot of disappointment. Our house was the first house we put an offer on (the third one we looked at in person) and we somehow got it! It’s insane, I'm so fucking grateful.

The only catch is that it's a lot more of a fixer upper than we had originally planned on buying. I didn’t think that we would ever buy another house that required as much renovation as our first one did, because that shit was intense and we are now in our 30s and very tired 😂. But our new house has so many features that were on our “would-love-to-have-but-probably-won't-find-in-this-economy” list like laundry upstairs and an attached garage (also a pond??!?! We have a fucking pond and I love it so so much🥹). So we knew we could turn it into a home we’d love spending our lives in if we put in the work. Plus it was actually well below our budget (probably because of the condition it was in).

We decided to offer what we were willing to pay, which was well above asking but we still didn't think we'd have a chance because the market is so competitive. I don’t know if our real estate agent just worked some magic (she was amazing), but we were genuinely stunned when she told us we got the house.

(Our beautiful pond🥹 🥰)

After that, things moved SO fast. The timing made it overlap with the prepping/listing of our first home, which was really stressful to juggle all at once on top of our full time jobs. I thought selling was going to be the easy part since the market is so skewed towards sellers right now. And it did go amazingly well once we listed (64 showings and 12 offers in one weekend, fucking nuts?!?!!), but the months leading up to listing the house were CRAZY. I knew it would be a lot of work to prep the house since we had a bunch of unfinished projects, 4 open permits with the town that we needed to get closed, and had accumulated so much shit over the years, but I definitely underestimated how intense it would be, especially with the overlap of buying our new house. I had used up all of my PTO for the year by June in order to deal with house things and felt like I was constantly on the verge of a mental breakdown. I pushed myself way past my limits and knew I would pay for it eventually.

But we made it through the chaos and officially moved in July. Let me just say that I hope I never have to move again😵‍💫. It was 90+ degrees (F), 95% + humidity that weekend, and then POURING rain on the day of the move🙃. But other than that, everything went pretty smoothly! After a couple weeks of getting settled and sleeping in the living room, we started on the renovations in early August.

(Before and after of our living room that we are using as a hobby room for D&D, music, art, etc I love it so much!)

(Before and after of the downstairs bedroom which we use as our office)

We remodeled two whole rooms in about 6 weeks, which was wayy too much. We had been going nonstop since April and by the time we got to October, I hit a wall. Because my mental health was incredibly fragile to begin with, surprise surprise I ended up stuck in another bout of horrific burnout-fueled depression for a solid 2+ months after we finally paused to take a break. I've struggled with my mental health since I was a teenager, having periods of depression, panic disorder, and GAD on and off. Also over the past year, I’ve started to suspect that I may have undiagnosed ADHD so there's a lot going on with my brain. I've always been a very sensitive person, and my mental health is the first thing to suffer if I don't take care of myself.

I started feeling a bit better in December, but then things got crazy again with work and the holidays, so I ended up back in burnout land yet again. Now I think I'm finally starting to truly recover as I enter the slow season at work. We are easing back into renovations but I've been trying to take it as easy on myself as possible to avoid falling back into that dark place, which is why you haven't seen much of me on tumblr. It bums me out, and I often feel frustrated with my own limitations when I see everyone posting and chatting and creating and I want so badly to join in, but I sadly just haven't had it in me for a long time. But I'm still lurking and forever obsessed with InuKag and hope to be recovered enough to participate in fandom stuff more soon!

I've still been writing and drawing here and there whenever I get a bit of inspiration. I actually just finished an Inuyasha redraw that I'll be posting soon! I've also been writing a lot more recently, or at least thinking a lot about my WIPs😂. The main one I've been working on is If It Kills Me, which I am dying to share with you all. But it's a mystery/thriller/actiony type of story with plot points that still need to be figured out, so once those pieces fall into place I will hopefully be able to wrap it up. I'm going to be working on it a lot in February, so we'll see what happens.

I would love to share my other main WIP The First and Last this summer (since it's a summer-based story), but we'll see how things go. The next major renovation project is the kitchen 😵‍💫, so fandom things might have to sadly take a backseat again during that. But I'll still be lurking here and missing you all! ❤️

The North Star - Part Five: Ask Me Again (NSFW) - Terry Bruno x Reader

Welcome to mine and @the-hinky-panda The Bronx universe featuring our favs Terry Bruno & Mike Duarte.

This story takes place several years after 'Blood Out'. Terry still lives in the Bronx and works in Manhatten SVU.

Following on from @the-hinky-panda story 'The Dog' Mike has retired from the NYPD on medical grounds due to seizures causes by the attack. He has a therapy dog called Bono and lives with @the-hinky-panda character Meredith.

Tagging: @mysoulisasunflower @legit9thlunaticwarrior @bbyxoo @the-adzukibean @xoxabs88xox @crazy4chickennuggets @beardedbarba @wooshwastaken @justreblogginfics @im-just-a-mississippi-girl @storiesofsvu @anime-weeb-4-life

Part One: Moments

You fall asleep on the car ride home, Terry’s jacket draped over you, pulled up to your chin. The  temperature had dropped by the time you left Meredith’s. He runs hot, he always has but he knows you feel the cold. This thing with Paul, and this case it’s exhausting you. You’ve stayed late the last couple of nights, and he sees the weight pressing down on your shoulders. The robberies are high profile, increasingly violent and now they’ve taken an even darker turn which is how they’ve landed at your feet. The victims are mostly from City Park and the Spencer Estates, the latest now being Morris Park. The homeowners are not Upper East Side rich, but the items that were stolen were heirlooms, past down from generation to generation. Duarte thinks there’s something in that, all these pieces are one of a kind, historical items, each of their stories running so deep you can feel the echo of generations when you look at the pictures.

He turns down Billy Joel on the radio as he pulls up in front of his apartment building. His head tilts towards you and he smiles. You’re curled up in the heated seat, head resting against the window. There’s a contented smile on your features and he loves that, loves the fact you feel comfortable enough with him to let your guard down.

A little wine, some good food, and excellent company can solve all the world’s woes.

“Hey pretty girl,” he says softly into the darkness of the car as he uses gentle fingertips to brush a strand of hair away from your features. “We’re home.”

“Hm…” You grumble, shuffling further down into the confines of his jacket. “Leave me, I’m comfortable here.”

Terry chuckled, his thumb tracing over the apple of your cheek. You leaned into his touch, your lips brushing over the base of his palm.

“I’m not letting you sleep in the car.” He says with a smile as he undoes your seatbelt.

“Always such a hardass.” You mumble, rubbing the back of your wrist across your tired eyes.

“Somebody has to take care of you.”

“You always do.” You told him resolutely. “I trust you more than I trust myself sometimes.”

“Nah, you’ve got good instincts.” Terry said. His fingertips caught the delicate gold chain around your throat, following the trail down to the centre of your chest where that tiny compass resided. “You just need to listen to them.”

“I do.” You told him, your gaze lowering to the compass between his fingertips. “When I’m not sure where I’m headed, I look down at this and think what would Terry do? And then I do the opposite.”

Terry rolled his eyes before releasing the compass.

“My girl, the comedian.”

There was silence for a second as Terry unclasped his own seatbelt and removed the keys from the steering console.

“I do want to move in with you, you know?” You said abruptly, the words spilling from your lips. “It’s just hard for me.”

“I know.” He said, his lips pursing together grimly, his fingers wrapping around the steering wheel. “Meredith told me.”

“I didn’t want you to see me as a victim, the work you do…” You trailed off, swallowing hard against the well of emotion in your chest. “I didn’t want you to have that in your home life too.”

“I don’t see you as a victim.” Terry said inclining his head towards you. “I see you as a survivor. You went through something awful at the hands of someone who was supposed to care about you and you’re still standing. Do you know how much strength it takes to do that?” Terry asked, angling his body towards you. “To get yourself out of that situation. You must have been terrified and you pushed through it. I admire that, I respect that.”

“Look…” Terry said meeting your gaze. His hand reached out to clasp yours, his thumb trailing over the indentation of your knuckles. “Move in with me, don’t move in with me. It doesn’t matter. I just want you feel safe, I want you to be able to sleep at night and know that everything’s going to be ok, that nothing is going to hurt you.”

“I love you; you know that?” You told him, leaning in close and inhaling that intoxicating scent. Your fingertips traced over the line of his jaw, your lips brushing over his softly. “Sometimes I look at you and I wonder how I got so lucky.”

“Luck had nothing to do with it.” Terry said quietly as he kissed you. “The two of us, it’s fate.”

----------------------------------------------------------------------

“Ask me again.” You whisper against his lips. You have him at your mercy, your hands threaded in his hair as you straddle his lap, his cock buried deep inside of you. There’s a flush across both of his cheeks, it reminds you of peaches and cream as you arch just a little taking him even deeper. His eyes are wild, locked on yours as you rock just a little coaxing a low moan from his throat. You have him at his peak, standing at the crest of the mountain and you are right there with him. His calloused palms roam up your curve of your back, clasping you close, holding on for dear life.

“Move in with me.”

His voice is husky and rough, his pupils blown as you sink down on him once more, tugging his head back and baring his throat. There’s an intimacy in the gesture, a sense of vulnerability and trust. You love him and this is your way of showing it, of reminding him that he’s yours, he’ll aways be yours.

You tantalise, you tease, you strip away every ounce of his control until he’s desperate and reckless, skin pressed so tightly against yours because he can’t stand not to touch you, not to feel you on every level. You drive him to the precipice, holding him there until the only thing he can focus on is the blurring of heaven and earth as he hits that rapture.

“Please, pretty girl.” He asks as he clings to the edge.

You know what he’s asking, it’s not just the moving in, it’s the commitment. The promise that you’re ready to take the next step, that you’re ready to trust him as much as he trusts you. It’s the final act, the shedding of that fear that sends you hurtling over the edge and plummeting into the sea of ecstasy. It washes over your synapses, drowning you like a wave until the only word on your lips is ‘yes’. You lose track of yourself, but Terry is always there, always grounding you. His hands are on your hips, his mouth smothering yours, drinking down your moans, your words and everything else you can give him as he spills himself inside of you.

You lose yourself in the bliss, the sense of belonging that comes with this man as he kisses you like you’re the only woman in the world. The only one he’s ever truly loved.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

It rains that night. Terry can hear the patter on the bedroom window as he lies in the darkness with your body draped over his. Your face is buried in the hallow of his throat, your arm thrown over his chest. His thumb trails over the curve of your spine, caressing your bare skin underneath the sheets. There was a perfection in this moment. The rhythm of your breathing against his. In the space of twenty-four hours his life has been flipped upside down and now he was considering the future.

There was a house for sale in Meredith’s neighbourhood, a couple of bedrooms, a small yard if you wanted a dog. It needed a little work, but the location was solid, and he had the money to renovate. He knew you would fight him on that point but the two of you would work out the details, you always did.

He thinks of the house with hardwood floors, your Aztec style rug in the living room along with his couch. A king-sized bed to go with the quilt he’d had to buy in the beginning of the relationship because you hoovered up the duvet when you were cold. The matching nightstands, you’d bought from a thrift shop before upcycling them with wallpaper and chalk paint. He wants to build a home with you, a place filled with laughter and love. He wants it to belong to both of you, for you to be able to come home and just relax in a space of your own. He longs for nights where you fall asleep with your head in his lap, a fire burning in the hearth, his fingers stroking through your hair. The two of you content.

This is what he falls asleep thinking about, with you in his arms. The life the two of you will have, the one you’ll create together.

Love Terry Bruno? Don’t miss any of his stories by joining the taglist here.

Like My Work? - Why Not Buy Me A Coffee

Demands on Goods and Food Inflation

Roscoe Filbur was penalized under the 1938 Agricultural Adjustment act for harvesting too much wheat.

[thanks to the person who directed me to the case]

I'm going to be referencing the encyclopedia brittanica article mostly, here and there if you want to confirm my analysis and assertions.

The first thing modern analysts are going to be screaming is "Racism"..because it's true; there were plenty of racists stemming effects as this benefitted the white owned and established farms over the black sharecropper start-ups. (Don't @ me, I'm sure there's a lot more on *that* front. But in the interest of time...) The benefits helped already established farms from going under.

They did this because there was wildly fluctuating prices at the time, and it ultimately saved many farmers from bankruptcy (as opposed to *all* farmers).

Well, actually, it was because crops had dropped to less than half of their original price in a very short time due to technological advancement. So the government decided to regulate the amount of crops produced across the country so that farmers could pay their mortgages.

This was to the benefit of some farmers that overextended their debt acquiring farming equipment and land. I'm asking the question now (since racism) Did that benefit farmers in Debt over farmers without? I'm not sure.

But what this confirms for me is the idea that inflation is directly tied to mortgages and debt by larger industry. If they're going to bailout those with the most debt-which will, by design; cause inflation. What are the widespread effects of that?

We know the "New Deal" and the "New Deal Jr." We're established to help the "forgotten man". With social programs and construction programs aimed at alleviating woes the average *homeowner* faced.

And then what? Did that help a majority of people lean into advancements for society as a whole?

-OR- and this is speculation: OR did that create a class of landlords and an industry built on renting to people in perpetuity? If so; how do we go from *that* to a system that focuses on keeping houses in good repair *and* replacing/upgrading/or even rebuilding as necessary?

We should have a class of craftsmen, who upgrade homes and infrastructure to the latest technological standards, and keep houses from deteriorating because the price on the home is more important than the house inspection.

And people should be able to afford those upgrades without the risk of losing everything inside their home when the bank repossesses the home.

How do we get from where we are; to where that isn't just a pipe dream?

President Joe Biden’s landmark Inflation Reduction Act is packed with billions of dollars’ worth of credits and rebates for purchasing electric cars and making home improvements that save energy. 

If you earn enough each year to owe the federal government money in taxes, then the credits that kicked in on Jan. 1 for buying an electric vehicle or setting up charging stations at home will shave thousands of dollars off your bill to the Internal Revenue Service. 

But if you’re a low- and middle-income homeowner looking for help covering the cost of swapping a fuel-burning furnace for an electric heat pump, you’ll have to wait until later next year for a rebate. If your existing appliance breaks in the meantime and you go green with the replacement, there’s no guarantee you’ll get any money back.

“It’s completely unacceptable,” Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) told HuffPost by phone Friday.

On Monday, Huffman and at least 65 other House Democrats signed a letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm demanding that her agency revise its rulebook to allow states to make all rebates retroactively available once states get programs started. 

“If you’re one of the wealthy folks that can access tax credits, you’re doing just fine,” Huffman said. “But if you’re a middle-class or working family and you’re counting on those more generous rebates to make all of this feasible for you, the Department of Energy is telling you that you have to wait indefinitely: If you were dumb enough to go ahead and buy these things because we’ve all been telling you to do it, you’re out of luck.”

Improved energy efficiency with heat pump technology and new tax incentives have contributed to the popularity of heat pumps as many homeowners face increased heating costs.

The issue centers on a nearly $9 billion pot of funding in the IRA meant to help homeowners buy electric appliances and upgrade homes to cut back on energy usage. The federal government is set to give the money to states to distribute directly to homeowners. But it took until July 27 — nearly a year after the IRA’s passage — for the Department of Energy to finish writing its rulebook for determining who is eligible for rebates. 

The guidance said appliances purchased between when the IRA passed and a state launches its rebate program would not be eligible for rebates — even though the law states that eligibility begins upon enactment of the statute. 

In a historic law packed with incentives for corporations to buy electric vehicles and build solar-panel factories, the rebates were designed as one of the few consumer-facing programs and among the biggest to primarily benefit anyone who isn’t rich. That most homeowners won’t get a taste of those rebates until the fall of 2024 at the earliest will only make it harder for Democrats to sell voters on the legislation before they head to the polls next November. 

The problem first came to light in Huffman’s home state of California, which arguably has the country’s most advanced existing rebate program for making energy-efficiency upgrades. In an Aug. 27 column, The San Francisco Chronicle’s Joe Garofoli detailed the woes of various homeowners who considered replacing fuel-burning furnaces with electric heat pumps until learning that the new federal rebates to cover as much as $8,000 of the $20,000 it could cost to buy and install the appliance were not guaranteed. 

“This is California,” a Nevada City resident named Ken Bradford, who was waiting to replace his propane-fueled furnace, told the columnist. “You’d think that California would be ahead of the curve on this. But not so.”

The bottleneck, however, is on the federal level. California could not begin applying for its rebates program to distribute the IRA money until the federal Energy Department released its guidelines — which did not come out until July 27.

The state is now working on designing its program. But the California Energy Commission said it can’t guarantee that appliances purchased between now and the launch of its program sometime next year will be covered unless the Energy Department revises its guidance. 

Despite months of back-and-forth with the Energy Department, Huffman said the agency has so far refused to change the rulebook. 

An Energy Department spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.  ___________________

I always was told it was the GOP that was reducing taxes for the rich, so this is a shocker.

For an added layer of fun, go have a look at what's going on with medicare in California.

Huffman blamed understaffing for the delays in writing the rules in the first place and admitted that the highly technical nature of the rebate program made implementation difficult. He said he suspects the added complication of applying rebates retroactively is behind the holdup. 

“It’s easier for bureaucrats to stand up a program that doesn’t apply retroactively; it’s easier to just make it point-of-sale, prospective only,” Huffman said. “It may take them another year and a half to do it, but it’s just easier for them.” 

The IRA “clearly authorizes retroactive rebates, stating that Home Efficiency Rebates ‘shall’ be provided for ‘retrofits begun on or after the date of enactment’ and saying nothing to the contrary regarding the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate,” the letter reads.

Until the administration begins distributing advanced administrative funds to help states hire for and develop their programs, the understaffing problems threaten to trickle down, further delaying payouts to homeowners, the letter said. 

“Because of delays in finalizing program guidance and distributing administrative funds, we are informed that states may be unable to offer rebates until the Fall of 2024 or later, which would be more than two years after IRA enactment,” the letter reads. “We urge DOE to prioritize getting this critical program on a faster, more effective track by working with states, territories, and tribes to ensure there are no further delays or obstacles going forward.”

Woe be upon anyone who dares to break into the Grey household, because the homeowner is a light sleeper, surprisingly light-footed for his size when he needs to be, and intolerant of any uninvited and unwelcomed guests in the home.

I love when home repair men come to the house without letting me know. I love waking up to a man on a ladder installing gutter guards that were supposed to be installed last December. /S

Good lord people weren't kidding about home ownership. If it's not one thing it's another.

Any plumbing folks on here?

Ever since my water went out earlier this year, my tub spout diverted hasn't been doing right.

Makes my shower yell every time I use it.

Is there anything I can do internally, or do I have to replace the whole spout?

I'm not concerned about the work, I'm fairly handy, but I don't want to replace the whole thing if it's not needed

Homebuyers have lost their short-lived edge as spring buying conditions worsen

Homebuyers have lost their short-lived edge as spring buying conditions worsen While it may seem like a seller’s market, a growing share of homeowners are deciding against listing their house for sale — adding to inventory woes for buyers.

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Ultimate Guide On Removing Oil Stains From Your Driveway

Let's sit down, grab a coffee, and talk about something that's probably been bugging you – removing oil stains from driveway. It's like they appeared overnight, a dark blot on your otherwise perfect home front. But don't sweat it; I've got some tips and tricks that'll make removing those pesky stains feel less like a chore and more like you're winning at homeowner bingo. Step 1: The Detective Work First things first, let's play detective. Is this oil stain fresh, or has it been hanging around longer than your in-laws at Thanksgiving? Fresh stains are simpler to handle. Grab some kitty litter or baking soda – yes, the stuff from your pantry – and give that stain a good sprinkle. It's like putting a cozy blanket over it. Let it sit, absorb, and then sweep it away like you're brushing off yesterday's worries. Step 2: The Kitchen Hero – Dish Soap Now, let's raid the kitchen. Dish soap and hot water can be your dynamic duo against oil stains. It’s like they team up to cut through grease and grime. Scrub that area and then rinse off for removing oil stains from driveway. Step 3: Bringing In The Big Guns – Degreasers If you're dealing with a stain that's more stubborn than a mule, it’s time to call in the heavy hitters: degreasers. It’s like bringing a superhero into the fight. Apply it, follow the epic instructions, scrub, and watch as that stain meets its match. Step 4: The Unexpected Twist – Wd-40 Here’s a twist in the plot – did you know that WD-40 can help lift oil stains? It’s like finding out your old school friend is actually a secret genius. Spray it on, give it a moment to work its charm, and then scrub. It's oddly satisfying, like popping bubble wrap. Step 5: The Pressure Washer Finale For the hardcore, been-there-forever stains, unleash the power of a pressure washer. It’s like using a magic wand to blast away the last traces of the stain. Just be careful not to go overboard; you don't want to turn your driveway into a scene from a superhero movie. The Cautionary Tale: Ice Melt Woes Now, let's talk winter woes. Using salt or chloride-based ice melts is like inviting a bull into a china shop. Sure, they melt ice, but they also rough up your concrete, making it more vulnerable to oil stains. It’s a short-term solution to long-term headaches. The Hero Of The Story: Safe Thaw Instead, let’s turn the page to Safe Thaw. It’s the gentle giant of ice melts. It is non-corrosive and eco-friendly, and it treats your driveway like a cherished family heirloom. Its special formula, a blend of crystalline amide core and glycol admixture, is like a secret potion keeping your driveway safe without any of the drama. Wrapping It Up: Keep Calm And Clean On Removing oil stains from driveway is like piecing together a puzzle. It takes patience, the right tools, and a bit of know-how. And remember, prevention is key. Using driveway-friendly ice melt like Safe Thaw you now know “how to clean oil on concrete driveway” and it can save you a lot of hassle down the road. So here’s to conquering those oil stains and keeping your driveway looking as inviting as a welcome mat. Happy cleaning! Read the full article

Storage Meets Style: Incorporating Ottoman Divan Beds in Your Home ?

Elevate Your Home with Luxury and Functionality: Ottoman Divan Beds in Ireland

In the quest for a harmonious blend of style and practicality in home furnishings, the Ottoman Divan Bed emerges as a beacon of sophistication and convenience. For those in Ireland seeking to optimize their living spaces with both luxury and functionality, incorporating these versatile pieces can be a game-changer. Let’s delve into why Ottoman Divan Beds are the epitome of storage meets style, and how they can transform your Irish abode.

Luxury Redefined: At the heart of the Ottoman Divan Bed lies an essence of luxury unparalleled. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and using premium materials, these beds exude opulence in every inch. From sumptuous upholstery to elegant designs, a Luxury Divan Bed elevates the aesthetic appeal of any bedroom in Ireland effortlessly.

Dual Functionality: What sets Ottoman Divan Beds apart is their ingenious incorporation of storage within the bed frame itself. Beneath the mattress lies a spacious storage compartment, ideal for stowing away extra linens, pillows, or seasonal clothing. This dual functionality maximizes space utilization without compromising on style, making it an ideal choice for modern Irish homes.

Tailored to Your Taste: With a plethora of options available, Divans Ireland collections offer something for every discerning homeowner. Whether you prefer a classic upholstered design or a contemporary silhouette, Divan Beds Ireland brands provide a diverse range to suit various décor preferences and bedroom aesthetics.

Space-Saving Solution: In a country like Ireland, where space is often at a premium, Ottoman Divan Beds offer a practical solution to storage woes. By seamlessly integrating storage into the bed frame, these beds optimize floor space, making them ideal for apartments, townhouses, or any compact living environment.

Quality Craftsmanship: Investing in a Divan Bed Ireland guarantees not only style and functionality but also superior craftsmanship. Built to last, these beds offer durability and longevity, ensuring years of comfort and satisfaction for homeowners across Ireland.

Incorporating an Ottoman Divan Bed into your home in Ireland is more than just a practical choice; it’s a statement of style and luxury. With their seamless blend of elegance and functionality, these beds redefine the concept of storage, offering a chic solution for modern living spaces. Experience the epitome of luxury and convenience with a Luxury Divan Bed — the perfect addition to any Irish home.